Cerebral palsy

• Cerebral palsy is a physical condition (to do with the body). It affects people’s movement. It can be mild, moderate or severe.

Cerebral palsy is not a learning disability, but many people with a learning disability also have cerebral palsy.

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a neurological condition (to do with the body’s nervous system). It is not a learning disability, but about 30% of people with a learning disability also have epilepsy.

People with epilepsy have fits. A fit happens when there is a problem with activity in the brain.

Autism

• Autism is a lifelong disability that affects the way someone communicates and relates to people around them.
• Autism is not a learning disability, but people with
  autism often have a learning disability. They face similar problems and have similar needs to people with a learning disability.
• Someone’s autism can be mild, moderate, or severe.
• It is not possible to tell from the way someone looks if they have autism.
• People with autism may have difficulties with:
  – forming relationships with other people
  – communicating and understanding what other
  people are trying to communicate
  – using their imagination.

Asperser’s syndrome

• Asperger’s syndrome is a form of autism. Like autism, it is not a learning disability, but it can affect the way someone communicates and relates to other people.
• People with Asperger’s syndrome can find it difficult to tell how other people are feeling by looking at the expression on their faces or listening to the tone of their voices.
• People with Asperger’s syndrome usually have fewer problems with language than people with autism.
• People with Asperger’s syndrome are less likely to have a learning disability than people with autism. So they often have average or above average intelligence.
• People with Asperger’s syndrome often like to have a regular routine everyday and can find changes to
  this upsetting.